Week 1: September 13-17 - Build background knowledge through a macro level examination of context

In the Discussion Forum, explore the world of the novel, The Lost Honor of Katharina Blum.

Go online and conduct some research, and disconnect from your computer and talk to your parents and others who have a good sense of life in the 1970s -- especially life in Europe. From your research and conversations, what can you share about...

  • Heinrich Boll
  • the Baader-Meinhof Gang
  • the climate and context of 70s - in Germany and elsewhere
  • How did life change for people after the Cold War?
  • West Germany, East Germany, and the Berlin Wall
  • faulty logic

Please post your comments in the Discussion Forum. You will see the titles for each of the above discussions indicating each discussion thread. Keep in mind the context of the novel as you are reading. You might decide later that this historical approach to this novel is one that resonates for you, and you might decide to take this approach in your final presentation assignment, to be shared online. You do not have to research ALL of the topics above; just be sure to comment intelligently on one or more of the topics, and respond thoughtfully to postings by others. Make sure, too, to include references to your research sources.



Support: How to locate information beyond what we'd find in Wikipedia or a general Google search -- attend the September 13 evening session that explores how to find reputable online information sources that will drive home the credibility of your work. Details to follow.

Looking for links to websites recommended by yourself and others in this class? Register for a Diigo account, and then add good links to the Lillian Osborne group -- or just use the links you find there!